What was a let down last year?

[slipperypenguin]

Looking for lessons from 2024! Last year we bought a full turkey and it was just a waste and didn’t get eaten. Also spent a fortune on a playmobil set for DS that he didn’t even open.

This year going to just get a small chicken and not going to spend ££ on surprises that we won’t know they will like.

did you spend on anything last year that you thought would be a winner but wasn’t?

The m&s big mix I bought a smaller box to try and dh also thought they were very sugary and samey.

No need to spend hours peeling and prepping for the big day! All the veg can be peeled and blanched and frozen in November. You can even pre-do your pigs in blankets and stick them in the freezer raw.

Also you can make your gravy (Jamie Oliver has a good one), stuffing balls, Yorkshire puddings, bread sauce, red cabbage all of that in advance and freeze it. Just get it out the night before and cook it on the day.

Nothing gets peeled or chopped here on Christmas.

I even have made cinnamon rolls to a certain point, defrosted in the kitchen over night and baked them Christmas morning. You can make your own cheese / chocolate / cinnamon / mincemeat twists with puff pastry and open freeze them and then open freeze them. Bake from frozen when you want them.

I also freeze crumble slices, millionaires shortbread, cookie dough, cake slices, Almond slices.

Mary Berry would be proud 🤭🤭🤭

Surprised ag this. Someone bought it for my kids last year. It’s been a huge hit and works perfectly

What stage do you freeze cinnamon buns ?
I made some last weekend and bloody lush they were too .
In the past tried freezing them cooked but if I can freeze them raw then cook them that would be better .'
Is it better to do first rise , assemble , cut then freeze . Or first rise , assemble ,cut , second rise then freeze .

The last lot I put in an air tight tub and we ate the rest the next day

TIA

First rise, assemble (into disapposablw foil round tin) and then into the freezer. I then leave them covered on the worksurface overnight to defrost and do second rise.

I’ve also done up to first rise and stuck it in the fridge over night, punched down, assembled and second rise the next morning.

My ex was a let down last Christmas 🙃

As long as he's not on your xmas list I think you're good 🫠

@arobinappearsspill the ☕️ 😂

We usually have a meal one night of all the fun snacky and party food you get in the supermarket and it was all vile last year. So disappointing.

This! I stopped buying random stuff after ds asked one year why Santa brings things I didn’t ask for!
Still get sweets & chocolate coins etc for the stocking but not extra presents.

My DSis and her family brought Outsmarted over on Boxing Day last year - they LOVED it, but we HATED it!

Boring questions, too much time staring at a screen, dull, dull, dull!!

I think I’m reading this thread wrong as I now want to buy Quality Street!

Pulling crackers! I spent alot on crap crackers last year. Any good recommendations?

Heartbreaking affair when it was our baby's Xmas and I was seriously ill...hence an ex now. This Christmas I'm hoping the only thing that will let me down are limited to random click and collect substitutions if that!

I over-spend sometimes and will think twice before buying this year.

@LuigiGhostDog and anyone else planning a toy declutter, the charity shops would love to get your unwanted gifts asap so they have options available for families who can only afford to buy from them.

Im not doing a fancy breakfast, just a big fruit salad as everyone likes that and mainly eat chocolate. The expensive croissants were wasted last year.

Only making one dessert rather than several. I’ve just picked something everyone will enjoy and that can be made ahead. We don’t need to be eating desserts up for a whole week.

Reducing the amount in stockings. The kids do not need more junk. 5things each that I know they will like

I like crackers with games in or things to play together. Over the years we’ve had whistles and bells that all play a different note, as a group you follow the song sheets to play tunes, one year we had wind up racing santas and reindeer.

This year I’ve got M&S one that have a bingo game in. £15 for 12 crackers and they look pretty decent quality. We will play bingo after dinner before pudding 🎅🏻🎄

Getting bloody ill. Me and DH and both children were all riddled with a heavy cold, which started as soon as we arrived at my parents a couple of days before Christmas. And if course we gave it to them as well. Miserable all round. So will be hand sanitising and antibac-ing my way through December this year!

We keep Christmas as simple and low key as possible here, and try to make it more simple every year.

Last year I decided I'm not buying bread sauce or red cabbage anymore as it's only me thats eats it!

We do a hamper from the butchers that is very good value and keeps us going to new year! Everything else is ready prepared from m and s/ocado. Although we do have 3 desserts (trifle, Yule log and sticky toffee!)

Always go to MIL on 24th for a buffet then christingle then home for gammon (put in slow cooker morning of 24th) egg and chips!

Christmas day is just the 6 of us. I scrapped fancy breakfast years ago as realised the dc just got on a sugar rush, we just do normal breakfast then presents. "Party food" lunch from m and s, our for a walk in the afternoon then Christmas dinner around 6pm.

Presents are fairly simple, often Preloved which is fine for us.

Last year was fine but the year before we visited family abroad. My doctor sister said she was working all week until Christmas Eve then taking a few days off to spend with us. Then she got Covid and we saw her for only one day - the day before we left (my DD and my niece are both immunocompromised so she kept out of the way). She got it from a nurse. Nothing anybody could do but she had a miserable Christmas and wasn’t paid either!

@FurForksSake sorry, I know this is not at all the point of your post but I'm interested in the hip surgery you're having. Also having surgery this week and not knowing what to expect.